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Jake Riepma

Week 11 Preview

Folks as you read this final regular season GLIAC preview, I kindly ask you refrain from crying real tears, it’s going to be okay.

On Saturday, nine GLIAC teams’ seasons will come to an end, and two teams will be moving on to compete in the Division II Playoffs.

Before we get into this week’s matchups, let me first say it has been a pleasure writing semiweekly GLIAC Football columns for D2football.com. I appreciate each and every one of you that took the time to read my posts, regardless of how bizarre they may have been.

Enough of the sentimental ish, let’s get into the regular season’s final slate of games.

Saginaw Valley State at Davenport jumps off the page as one of the more compelling games of the weekend. I know this is pointing out the obvious, but hey, that’s what all good sports writers do – both teams would love to go off on a high note. For SVSU, that would mean a two game win streak to conclude the season, and for the DU Panthers, that would mean avoiding a five game skid to end the season. I like the Cardinals in this one, too much firepower and that Panther defense isnt playing as well as they were at the beginning of the season.

Grand Valley State hosting Wayne State has all the makings of a blowout. The Warriors are coming off a disappointing loss at the hands of the Northern Michigan Wildcats last week at Tom Adams Field. Sure, we can say WSU is only playing for pride, but that only goes so far – GVSU is the far superior team talent wise, and they may even add some style points for those Super Region 3 final rankings. GVSU with the easy win.

Northwood on the road at Michigan Tech. I said it earlier this week – Tech has gotten the most out of its roster, and my Timberwolves have had a tough time all year at 2-7 overall. Houghton has not been kind to NU, it’s been almost a decade since Northwood last won at Michigan Tech, 2009 to be exact. However, the Timberwolves did win last year’s contest in Midland, but before that, the Huskies had rattled off six straight in the series. This one should be close, I want Northwood to win but I think MTU gets the W.

Ferris State concludes its season with a non-conference tilt against William Jewell College. Considering no one from the GLIAC could tarnish the Bulldogs unbeaten record, I don’t anticipate a team from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) handing FSU its first defeat. Ferris State by 30 or more.

Northern Michigan hits the road for a long trip south to Ashland, Ohio, for a matchup against the 5-4 Eagles. It’s senior day for AU, and considering Northern Michigan has only won once in Ashland in the history of the series, I don’t like the Wildcats’ chances this time around. AU has dominated the all-time series, holding a 19-6 advantage. They make it 20-6 all-time after Saturday, AU by double digits.

Okay the time has come, final 2018 GLIAC Preview in the books. Thanks for reading, hopefully between now and next year you’ll find time to read much better material than mine. Oh, and if anyone cares, I still don’t have an undefeated week in 10 tries, maybe week 11 I’ll go 5-0, which would put me at 37-12, but who’s really counting, anyways?